On August 9, at 12:30 p.m., you have an opportunity to help put on a welfare simulation forstaff at Sparrow Health Network in Lansing.

Participants will play the parts of families living on welfare for a month (4 15-minute weeks) and YOU can be part of the community–the grocer, the banker, the landlord, folks in the welfare office, etc.

Directions for your role play are provided and it is not difficult. More details and car pool arrangemnts can be had from Mary Browning (mcbrowng@umich.edu or 665-8167). Please contact her before the end of July. After August 1, contact Stephanie Oswald at 734-663-1870 or stephanie@icpj.net

The Racial and Economic Justice task force will host this months Dinner and a Movie event. We will watch a film documenting Jane Elliott’s controversial, startling and now famous, “Blue Eyed Brown Eyed” exercise which labels participants as inferior or superior based solely upon the color of their eyes and exposes them to the experience of being a minority. Everyone exposed to Jane Elliott’s work, be it through a lecture, workshop, or video, is dramatically affected. Come watch the film and build community around delicious food, a good film, and lively discussion.

Where: Memorial Christian Church ~ 730 Tappan St. Ann Arbor

When: Thursday, July 12, 6:30 p.m.

Why: to build community around peace and justice.

How Much: FREE!!! You are invited to bring a dish to share, but it is not required. Donations are accepted.

So the big news right now is the opening of Michael Moore’s new film, Sicko, addresses the sorry state of health coverage in the U.S.

Now, with movies like this, I always enjoy them more if I have a change to discuss them afterward.

That’s why ICPJ is organizing a post-Sicko movie discussion.

After the 7:00 p.m. showing Sicko at the Michigan Theater on Saturday, June 30 , we’ll head down the block to Cafe Ambrosia at 326 Maynard St. to talk about the movie and what to do next.

Enjoy the show!

Last week ICPJ’s Racial and Economic Justice Task Force issued a statement calling on our elected officials not to cut vital social services in response to Michigan’s budget crisis. They state:

Continue Reading »

As you know hunger is a complicated problem. Since it is a complex injustice, for hunger to really be alleviated it requires that people like you take a comprehensive approach to the issue. Continue Reading »

By Chuck Warpehoski

Cover the Uninsured Week hits close to me, because I’ve been there.

In 2001-2002, my wife, Nancy, did a year of volunteer service through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. While volunteer service is a great way to learn how to live on the cheap and to explore issues of faith, justice, and simplicity, it doesn’t provide you with a financial cushion for when you leave the program. Continue Reading »